NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Posey

A diminutive form of the name Josephine, meaning "She will add".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Posey is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Posey popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2411, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 11 births.

This profile covers 71 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2015 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Posey is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 71 living people in the UK are called Posey. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Posey ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 11 girls were registered as Posey.
  • About 71 living people in the UK are estimated to have Posey as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2411

2024

Births in 2024

11

Latest year

Peak year

2024

11 births

Estimated living

71

2026

Meaning

What does Posey mean?

The name Posey is thought to have originated from the Old French word "posie," meaning a short verse or motto. This term was derived from the Latin word "poesis," which means poetry or poetic composition. The name was initially used as a descriptive term for someone skilled in composing or reciting poetry.

In the Middle Ages, the name Posey gained popularity among the nobility and elite classes in Europe, particularly in England and France. It was often associated with individuals who had a penchant for literature, arts, and cultural pursuits. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 13th century, when it was found in various literary works and historical records.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Posey was William Posey, an English poet and scholar who lived in the 14th century. He is known for his contributions to the development of early English literature and his involvement in the literary circles of his time.

In the 16th century, the name Posey gained further recognition with the birth of John Posey, an English composer and musician. He was renowned for his compositions for the lute and his contributions to the development of English Renaissance music.

Another prominent figure associated with the name Posey was Thomas Posey, an American politician and military officer who lived from 1750 to 1818. He served as the Governor of the Indiana Territory and played a significant role in the early development of the American Midwest.

During the 19th century, the name Posey was borne by several notable individuals, including Mary Posey, an American educator and women's rights advocate (1809-1894), and John Posey, a Confederate general during the American Civil War (1825-1863).

In more recent times, the name Posey has been carried by individuals such as Parker Posey, an American actress known for her roles in independent films (born in 1968), and Buster Posey, a professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants (born in 1987).

While the name Posey has its roots in Old French and Latin, it has transcended its linguistic origins and gained a unique cultural significance throughout history, associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds who have made notable contributions in various fields, including literature, music, politics, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Posey over time

The chart below shows babies named Posey registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Posey, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Posey
036811201520192024

Decades

Posey by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Posey was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3109 39 5
2010s #3546 32 5

Related

Names similar to Posey

FAQ

Posey: questions and answers

How popular is the name Posey in the UK right now?

In 2024, Posey was ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.

When was Posey most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 11 babies registered as Posey in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Posey?

A diminutive form of the name Josephine, meaning "She will add".

How many people are called Posey in the UK?

A total of 71 babies have been registered as Posey across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.